Chapter 12
Back and forth, back and forth, Gimli pace but kept his own worries but Gimli still his actions seemed to speak of their worries for them as well, "how long have they given us to clean up?" He complained knowing it had been well over an hour.
Legolas chuckled realizing Gimli hardly looked clean in his opinion, "perhaps they have hope for you." He raised an eyebrow at Gimli trying to amuse himself so not to worry.
A knock upon the door halted all conversation and they to all stare at it until Gandalf spoke up, "enter."
It was Gimli who added in a quiet "at your own risk..."
The door opened and Jared entered with a bow to them, "how many rooms do you require?"
"Rooms?" Gimli grunted.
"Night has fallen and Giles wants to extend to you the courtesy of Loredell," Jared smiled.
"And of our conversation?" Gandalf inquired.
Jared ushered them to another room with a little smile, "As soon as you gather the rest of your party." Jared lead them down the long marble hall and to another door that was not quite close He gave a small knock then pushed the door to reveal Aine and Arri standing and with the door opening they nearly almost jumped. Clearly they had seemed to have been interrupted their talking and they turned to welcome them in but it would seem Aragorn needed no invitation.
Aragorn rushed to Arwen who was laying on a small cot in the sunny room. He knelt by her and caressed her face lightly.
Legolas exhaled seeing Aine and Arri seemingly unharmed and he moved to Arri's side quickly looking worriedly at Arwen. Slipping her hand in his then he felt he finally exhaled.
Jared watched the body language spoken and unspoken, "I see two less rooms needed tonight." Watching Legolas and Arri's hand in hand and Aragorn's tender touches upon Arwen's bloodied head made it easy to know they were coupled.
Aragorn and Legolas looked at the other not sure if it mattered to be established as couples or not but Aragorn looked to Arwen and smiled, "you will not make the talks."
Arwen looked crestfallen but Eosin pushed forward, "I will stay with her."
"Talks?" Aine looked to Gandalf reaching for the bags they had finally been given and produced a small leather bag.
"Giles is interested in your business here," Jared offered.
Arri watched the man curiously wondering what they would do to her if they knew what the talks would be about.
Jared could see they were anxious to meet with Giles finally and gestured to the door, "If you are ready then."
Following him down the hall they noticed how much the marble shone, in fact the floors had such a police it reflected them. Arri took great pride noticing her hand with Legolas' and her heart flipped at the sight. It had many great columns much like Minas Tirith but again these were polished to perfection. They furthered down to the hall waiting outside of the throne room and it was adorned with large wood pillars and windows of stained glass that almost touched the top but underfoot was a rich red carpet that made a slight shuffling noise when touched. Jared introduced this room as the great hall and down the corridor sans the numerous guards they had encountered earlier. They could finally look around the castle even if just by looking between the columns to see more of it and taking in some of the details close to them. Legolas watched Arri taking in every detail as she seemed to commit it to memory. He kept his hand with hers to stay close to her as well as reassure her and meeting her eye he gave her hand a comforting squeeze and let go to keep on guard.
Arri turned to him and her heart leap watching his handsome profile against the stone columns of the castle. She wondered if they could resolve this tonight because she felt ill and fatigue was setting in.
They came into the throne room and she marveled how unlike any other she had seen. To her the room was cold and unfeeling and to look at the richly carved throne with red material laden throughout gave her chills. They were ushered passed the throne to a room with a man much shorter than the elves with hair very close to the color of her own hair and he was waiting behind with a large table for all to sit at that seemed it would match the throne perfectly. Giles was already present as was one of his guards and eyes much like Arri's looked back at her with pure venom. Watching them he noticed one was missing and the two he did see resembled one another, "the one female is not up to speaking?" He looked to the others for answers.
"Eosin keeps her company," Gandalf said sitting by Aine.
"Of course," Giles said quickly hoping to get to the business at hand. "What brings you to Loredell," he smiled to them.
Aine sat straight meeting his eye carefully, "Your fallen uncle and cousin." Aine sighed as if to offer sympathy and she truly did, "with King Loreth's death you cousin, his son, William should have been successor but with his loss you are believed to be next in line for this position?"
"I am," Giles squinted his eyes, "You have come for the coronation?"
Gandalf drew in a deep breath as every seemed to feel the uncomfortable silence, "There is another for the crown."
"Really?" Giles swallowed uncomfortably and he was looking among them with great interest now, "who?"
Aine produced a royal seal from her bag and a necklace that was from her late husband, "King Loreth was only crowned after his father's demise, my husband."
"You are Aine?" Giles looked as spooked as he felt and seemed to crawl back into the chair to get away from her. "you have no claim to the throne Aine." He spat the words at her in nearly a scream.
"No, but my daughter Livian did as did her off spring," Aine offered producing more royal trinkets to verify her words but kept them within her reach yet not out of his line of vision.
"William told me Livian passed some years ago," Giles tried to hide his smile, "I have also heard her spouse Thondas passed at Helm's Keep."
"True but their lineage does not end there." Gandalf exhaled spoke quickly unsure the elves would be able to confine tongues with such a snake. With a wide sweep of his hand he gestured to Arri, "Arri is daughter of Thondas and Livian or Aine' grandchild." Gandalf almost enjoyed seeing Giles's smiled wiped from his face.
Giles began to gesture with his hands but his hands seemed to do nothing as he mumbled, trying to spit the words, "an elf can not rule a kingdom much less a female." He snorted, "this is a kingdom of men not elves."
"Birthright is just that Giles," Aine said simply, "This shall bring you as second to the crown."
He looked to Arri, "you would have to marry a human to rule." Giles challenged her.
"Why?" Gandalf answered for her. "She is entitled by birth and there is more than enough proof." He gestured to heirlooms long lost to Loredell that Aine splayed across the table as proof to their claim.
"And if I contest this?" Giles said drawing his finger at them.
Legolas sat forward with his blood near a boil he watched how this man was with Arri and he had a dagger at the ready, "Mirkwood shall see it done."
"As will Gondor," Aragorn narrowed his eyes letting him deal with words from another kingdom of men.
"I bring the word from the house of Elrond that Rivendell stands behind this as well," Gandalf added quickly.
Gimli felt confident and puffed his chest out to seem more threatening, "you don't want the dwarves to give you trouble as well now."
Giles looked at Arri and smiled, "she doesn't even want the crown," he almost laughed. "She is a scared rabbit."
Arri's eyes grew big and she knew Legolas was upset with this and he found her hand under the table to give her a reassuring squeeze.
"That rabbit got a sword from your guards to Arwen," Gimli chuckled.
"Arri will take the crown," Aine held her hand to hush Gimli's further uttering.
"She will have to be trained as a queen and if indeed she still wants the crown she may have it," Giles narrowed his eyes. He looked at Arri with such distaste that if she had been in arm's reach he would have gone for her, "She has not even spoke." He snorted almost hoping to entice the elf, "she will never show the grace of a queen."
Legolas narrowed his eyes, "she has been taught Elvish and human manners for royalty."
Arri stayed calm and now she squeezed Legolas' gently and looked to Giles, "I dare not speak for having my words twisted by your necromancer," She confronted him. "Was their reason that female elves were pushed into a dungeon?"
Giles stammered and inaudible response, "fear you? I do not fear you?"
Arri kept her grace giving very little emotion, "I spoke not of fear but since you have then why do you fear us?"
Aine worried knowing Arri's passionate nature and looked to Gandalf closely.
"You knew my mother and Aine and of me." Arri's words were very heated despite her lack of emotion shown. "If you do not fear a mere elf then return our weapons and reveal this magician who invades our thoughts." Narrowing her eyes in challenge she watched his reaction very carefully
Giles was speechless and stood abruptly, "You have two week's time to get adjusted here, 'Arri' and once the time is threw I seriously doubt you should want a man's crown," Giles snarled.
They all stood as Giles did not for respect but because of the hateful way he now leered at Arri. He motioned to Jared, "They should 'rest' now if you will show them to their rooms." Then he looked to the other guard to come with him from the room but he sneer was not gone and follow the ill mannered man.
The other guard did as he was told but lingered enough to let his eyes wander up and down Arri. Legolas moved closer to arri noticing the other guards eyes on her and the guard looked on to Legolas in silent challenge then licked his lips with a smile over his toothless grin.
"All you elves stick together eh?" the man drawled, "Or is she yours?" He watched Legolas and Arri with a perverted fascination but the couple stayed silent afraid of things they said might end up twisted.
Jared waved the other guard on and sighed as he showed them out of the room and he looked to Arri, "Sorry, not all people will be kind to elves."
Arri raised an eyebrow at the kind words as Legolas stood next to her.
"You have not been unkind," Aragorn noticed and she traded a look with Legolas.
"NO?" Jared smiled and looked to Arri and Aine, "a rightful heir would be better than Giles," he said for their ears only. "Word was he would push us into war with ourselves."
Gimli scoffed, "crowns should go to the right person." Gimli cleared his throat, "I thought Giles cousin had another name."
"Who William?" Jared asked as he looked at Gimli evenly and he seemed eager to help them.
Gandalf agreed, "His younger brother, Jareth. There were two sons of Loreth."
"Oh, yes," Jared was taken back, "we tend to forget about him."
Aine was intrigued still learning it as well, "where is he?"
"He passed before taking the crown," Jared nodded. "Some say he was killed, others say he took his own life and there are some who believe he runs from the jinx of this crown."
"Jinx?" Gandalf repeated.
"Many have died before taking it," Jared sighed, "It is said we may never have a ruler." He stopped in front of a long corridor inside the castle itself, "The guest rooms." He smiled opening one as an example, "At least 20 of them are unoccupied at the moment."
Gimli walked into the room to inspect it and nodded his approval.
Jared motion to the other doors, "Let me show the rest of you to your rooms." He looked to Aragorn, "Arwen waits with Eosin in that room for you."
Aragorn nodded feeling tired and watched as the only guard with manners showed the rest to their rooms.
So it was to newly bound elves, Legolas sat by the window as Arri changed for the evening if she hadn't looked ill he would have helped her undress but he controlled himself. He tried to amuse himself looking upon the small village below and letting his eyes wander to Arri as she changed. She found the simple human clothing and put the night clothing they had left for her. As she joined him by the window she clutched something in her hand as he took her in his arms slowly and as he kissed her she revealed the token she held. He narrowed his eye in silent questions.
Taking his hand she opened his slender fingers and lay a simple necklace and charm to match the other he wore of hers, it held the emblem of Loredell nestled in a circle with the royal banners, "I wear yours of Mirkwood this was given to my mother and she left it for me."
"The humans would not have us joined," he sighed.
Would her smile ever wane when around him, "they are too late." She dropped herself into his arms, "We are bound in every way." She kissed him softly as he let a small groan. "Who would want me now that I have been defiled?" She teased.
"I thought you did not feel well," he asked her lightly.
"I have not since we first made intentions clear," she smiled. "Love does many things."
Catching her in his arms and he laughed as he realized she was trying to keep the human traditions but forgot something, "Arri, they left you human under garments." He knew she only had the outer nightgown on.
"They itch," Arri wrinkled her nose at him. "I had not planned to be dressed that long." She brushed lips to his and then gave herself to him in a hard kiss. He lifted her from the floor and began to carry her to the bed.
Arwen felt better after they administered their own healing techniques to her wound. She listened intently as Aragorn told her of the 'talk' they had earlier with Giles but she made no attempt to raise her head.
She noticed he was undressing to sleep and watched him a little amused, "Arri shall not take the crown so easily."
"I did not say that Giles said that," he cocked and eyebrow at her as he removed his shirt and he noticed her stare as he undressed.
"You did not need to," she sighed hearing the sounds of Legolas and Arri in the room next to them her face tainted red, "love is new to them," she smirked knowing they were together.
"Legolas and Arri?" Aragorn guessed remembering her keen elven ears.
She gave a nod watching the villagers below moving to the last of the daily business.
"Could be worse," he smiled roguishly, "could be Gimli."
She smiled and threw a pillow at his head at his jest which he caught easily. "You think Giles will contest the crown?" He asked dropping the pillow on the bed.
"Not until she gives him reason," her mind traveled to Legolas and the conflict of two elves on the throne, "he shall fight her but the King of Gondor makes a difference."
"I am not King yet," he gave her a slight grin
"The Fellowship made all aware of you and your heritage," she smiled thinking of the legend her beloved would always be.
He nodded hoping she was right, as long as they were highly respected and willing to stand by Arri Giles would not contest but they could not stay there forever. Although Giles seemed quite set on this crown and if Arri's other family had been murdered for the crown, what else would he do "I hope it is not a battle of time."